Two human rights documentaries to screen for free this week

The title of the documentary is difficult to translate: In Spanish, it’s “Imágenes de mi Territorio Rama y Kriol.” While rama means “branch,” it is also the name of an indigenous people from Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast. About 900 Rama have managed to survive the exploitation of colonists and profiteers, but their culture is difficult to sustain in an increasingly interconnected world. They share the coast with the “Kriol” people, who are of Afro-Caribbean descent. True to its title, “Images of My Territory,” the film explores the unique beauty of Rama and Kriol life and the enormous challenges they face as endangered peoples.

Produced in Nicaragua by the Cooperativa de El Arte Ceibo, “Imágenes” will screen at the Institute de México in Los Yoses, Feb. 17, at 6 p.m.

By coincidence, the Rafael Angel Calderón Guardia Museum will be hosting its own screening of “Return of the Scorcher,” a 1992 documentary about global bicycling culture at almost the exact same time: Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 5 p.m. The 28-minute film explores the origins and uses of two-wheeled transport.

While the two screenings have no relationship to each other, they share a lot of common themes: simple lifestyles, healthy coexistence, and the contrary pressures of industrial culture. If you feel like catching both, you can probably book it from Barrio Escalante as soon as “Scorcher” is over and arrive in time to see “Imágenes.” Or you could watch the entirety of “Scorcher” online. Or you could see the second screening of “Imágenes” at the Colegio de Periodistas (in La Sabana) on Feb. 18 at 6 p.m.